David Robert Lambert

In remembrance of Independence Day and the recent Derecho storms and resulting power outages this past week, let us pray:

O God, you divided the waters of chaos at creation.

In Christ you stilled storms, raised the dead, and vanquished demonic powers.

Tame the earthquake, wind, and fire, and all the forces that defy control or shock us by their fury.

Help us, in good times and in distress, to trust your mercy and yield to your power, this day and for ever.

Almighty God, you rule all the peoples of the earth.

We believe in you, O God, for you have made the suffering of humanity your suffering.

Today we worship you,
because you are alive,
you have saved us,
you have made us free.

Inspire the minds of all women and men to whom you have committed the responsibility of government and leadership in the nations of the world.

Give to them the vision of truth and justice, that by their counsel all nations and peoples may work together.

Give to the people of our country zeal for justice and strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will.

Forgive our shortcomings as a nation; purify our hearts to see and love the truth.

We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

08/23/2011 1:51pm eastern daylight time
Upgraded from Magnitude 5.8 to 5.9
Epicenter located at 37.975, -77.969
4 mi SSE of Louisa, VA, about 89 miles away from Washington, DC
Ref: http://earthquake.usgs.gov

All is OK here in Potomac, Maryland.

“… you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Jesus’ disciples were sent not only throughout Israel to preach His Gospel, but to foreign lands like Samaria as well.  Christ made it clear that his message was for all people, not just any particular single nation.

Your Jerusalem is here, your own home town, your community and local region.  Many people find it easy to write a check and send money to Africa, Central America or another place at the ends of the earth, far, far away.  But where is the local involvement?  He said to go to all nations, not just to the ends of the earth.

The estimated dollar value of volunteer time for 2010 is $21.36 per hour.

The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide.

According to the “Research Brief: Volunteering in America Research Highlights” published in 2010 by the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 63.4 million Americans, or 26.8 percent of the adult population, gave 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth $169 billion in 2009.

Figures are also available for each state. Virginia: $22.03, Maryland: $22.32 and DC $32.79 per hour!

Of course monetary donations are appreciated but what are you doing to better your local community through volunteer service?

Psalm 100:3 says “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”  1 Corinthians 12:12 says “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.”

We are the Body of which the Lord is Head, He wills us to be a family, diverse yet truly one. Let us give our gifts to God, so his work on earth will be done.[1]

Each ember loses fire yet joined in one the flame burns on to give warmth and light.[1]

The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.[2]

So is it here in the Washington DC metropolitan region and around the world.  Let us join together and discover the gifts and resources each of us, our congregations and our non-profit ministries have to share with others.

Does a candle burn less brightly after lighting another candle?

Ref 1: “We Are God’s People” by Bryan Jeffery Leech, 1976
Ref 2: “We Are the Church” by Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh, 1972

The basic New Testament texts regarding Spiritual Gifts are found in Romans 12:1-8;  1 Corinthians  2:1-27; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Ephesians 4:1-7,  Ephesians 4:11-16 and 1 Peter 4:8-11.

Ephesians 4 says Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, gifts to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.  People must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

What gifts do you have that could be used to build up your church and your local community?

Created in 1978, the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) brings together eleven historic faith communities to promote dialogue, understanding and a sense of community among persons of diverse faiths and to work cooperatively for social and economic justice in metropolitan Washington.

The following is from the July 2010 InterFaith Connect E-Newsletter published by the IFC.  Additional information can be found on their website http://www.ifcmw.org

Interfaith dialogue can be approached from various perspectives. For example, it can be an intellectual exercise in which representatives of particular religious traditions describe the beliefs or practices of their faith with those of different faiths. Another approach is to experience the ritual or prayer of another tradition in order to “feel” what it’s like to observe or participate in that tradition. On a different level, one can emphasize similarities or one can focus on differences among diverse faith traditions.

The IFC approaches interfaith dialogue using each of these approaches, depending on the speakers and the setting. For example, our Amazing Faith Dinner Dialogues to be held on August 8th in homes across the Greater Washington DC area will bring together small groups of people from diverse religious backgrounds living in the same community to share their faith experiences. These dialogues are bound to include both “head” and “heart” sharing, as well as to address the areas of agreement and disagreement among the traditions represented.

There are three ways to join in:

• Be trained as a facilitator
• Provide a host home and meal
• Come as a guest

I encourage you to participate in this event by clicking on the link below.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGk3MlZIU1lDMUhWYmdTLVQ5aTgyRUE6MQ

Facilitators and those volunteering to provide a host home should sign-up as soon as possible.  Guest registration will be open through July 30.

This fall I have been volunteering once a month with a relatively new organization called One Brick.  These events centered around sorting clothing donations for the needy at the Interfaith Clothing Center in Rockville, Maryland.  The last event I attended was held on December 12.  I had been thinking about writing this blog since then but with the Christmas Holiday approaching and our trip to Quakertown, PA to visit my in-laws, it went by the wayside.  Today I saw Tom Corcoran’s posting that mentioned volunteering, so this re-energized me!

The One Brick tag line says “Volunteering Made Easy“.  They provide support to local non-profit and community organizations by creating a unique, social and flexible volunteer environment for those interested in making a concrete difference in their community. One Brick enables people to get involved, have an impact and have fun, without the requirements of individual long-term commitments.

Some people like myself tend to frequent the same event each month while others like variety and pick different events that better match their busy schedule.  In any case, there is no expectation of one coming back again to the same venue anytime soon.  Many of the volunteers are from DC proper and other come from nearby communities in Northern VA and MD.  One Brick has chapters in a half-dozen major cities.

For those so inclined, One Brick sponsors a monthly “Happy Hour” for getting to know other volunteers better and to learn, from personal stories, about other volunteer events.

Want to make a difference in your community?  Check out the One Brick Calendar and find an event that matches your interest and schedule.  Maybe I’ll see you at the next clothing center event on Saturday, January 9!